Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Warsong for Warcraft

If you're not already aware, I'm a songwriter/composer, among other things.

Folks who know me personally associate me with music more than any other talent. But I'm also an introvert who dislikes a lot of attention, so my literally hundreds of songs usually just get stashed into a list of recorded memories as I move on to composing new ones. I'm also clumsy (supposedly a trait of my autism), so my performances are inconsistent in quality; sometimes, my fingers just don't want to move and my voice doesn't want to work. As a result, I'll probably start selling some of my songs at some point, but that hasn't happened yet.

I compose in many different styles (usually some sort of rock), and my lyrics cover many different subjects. I have a handful of fantasy-themed songs. I have one from the perspective of a haunting ghost, one from the perspective of a vampire, one about an undead mercenary... and one that just happens to fit the basic theme and mood of the Warcraft lore. It's called "A Season for War".

Now, let me preface this by saying that I do very little according to common conventions, and my music is no different. When I say "fantasy-themed songs", many people probably think of bands like Blind Guardian; bands that sing in an operatic or chant style, that use Medieval instruments or note progressions. In short, most fantasy-themed songs are by bands acting like they're part of a fantasy setting themselves.

Think of my fantasy songs as being more in line with Led Zepplin's fantasy songs (like "The Battle for Evermore" or "Misty Mountain Hop", which are based on LOTR). They're variants of my usual rock style. No gimmicks with my voice. No wild sounds running through a synthesizer. Just straight-up rock 'n' roll, but with lyrics that paint an impossible picture.

Anyway, I'd probably try to pitch this song to the Warcraft film's producers for a place in the film's soundtrack, but they should probably stick with a symphony orchestra for that sort of film.

My cheap, home-made recording can be found here. It's recorded on my acoustic, because that's all I have with me at the moment, and the singing could be better; but oh well. I'll probably re-record it in a month or two, when I'm not living in an apartment and can get loud comfortably.

I've included the lyrics below. Whether you think it rocks or you think it's crap, I'd appreciate feedback either way.

A Season for War

can you see? can you hear?this is a season for wareverything lying stillwondering what the silence is fora calm riseswhere's that wind the precedes the storm?

feel it rise, feel it fallbreathing like hungry dogwill it strike in the night?or tear the mighty down in a fog?i'm dreamingthe howling of a ghostly throng

run if you want tothe wardrums will find youstill reeling from the last season of war

it was told in the talesof the elders now we scornit would come once againto break the fragile peace that was bornfrom their losslife out of the ash of war

first the drums from the hillsthen the glare of fiery skiespushing on like a ragecallous to the fearful and dyingwhat flies nowover the heads of this wraithen horde?

smoke on the horizonlight shine on the writhingstill reeling from the last season of war

(solo)

not a spear, not a swordisn't taken up in handwe will fight, we will hold!as the very stones of this landO Fortune! lead me to the tallest horns

we march through the Neverspeak these names foreverkeep screaming to the last season of war